Apparatus for compressing and distributing air under pressure.



M. U. WILKINSON. v

APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AND DISTRIBUTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE. I

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 13, 1911.

1,017,835. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Inventor:

witnesses. J feZvzZZe dwf'lla'mon. v

a in A n u E STA MELVILLE C. WILKINSON, OF PALOVEE VALLEY, CALIFOE:

APPAiR-ATUS FOR COMPRESSIlNG- AND -DISTRIBUTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 13, 1911. Serial No. 608,214.

To all whom it may concern:

der Pressure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for. compressing, conveying and distributing compressed air and utillzlng the same as a motive force to d'rivemachinery at a more or less dist-ant point from the source of power, the exhaust of the working machinery, still under pressure, being returned and recompressed for use. It has been customary in mechanisms of this character either to vary the speed of the compressor, to suit the load of the working machinery, or to allow the excess air compression over the amount used in the working machinery, to escape from the high pressure side to the low pressure side and becon 3 lost.

. It is an object of this invention, among other things, to operate the compressor at a reasonably uniform speed, and to generate only the power required to operate the working machinery and further to produce an air compressing and utilizing mechanism which will require no cooling device.

It is also an object of the invention to reduce the size of the mechanism in proportion to the power generated and to utilize an unevenly distributed power to produce an even application of the power.

The invention is also designed to maintain a given ratio of pressure in the two sides of the system, the mechanism of this invention having high and low pressure sides provided with means to maintain the desired ratio between the pressure of the two sides.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for automatically replacing any loss of air due to leakage in the mechanism, also to compress and utilize air in such a manner that the effects commonly due to heat or pressure generated will not vary the action of the machine.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly in section, of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of one of the diaphragm protecting plates showing the sectional divisions. Fig.3 is a perspective view of one section of said plate as shown in Fig. 2.

The invention and its operation will now be described in detail, reference being had to the parts illustrated in the drawings, in which 1 indicates an air compressor of any preferred design (construction not shown as not being a portion of the invention) operated by a prime mover.

2 and 3 are valve chambers, one of which as 2 is connected't'o the outlet side of the compressor by pipes 5 and 6, and to the inlet side of the compressor by pipes 7, 8 and 9, while chamber 3 is connected to the inlet side only of the compressor 1 by the pipes 10, 8 and 9. A. high pressure reservoir 4 forms a portion of the high pressure side of the system and is connected to the air compressor' 1 by the pipe 5.

A low pressure reservoir 4* forms a por tion of the low pressure side of the system and is connected to the chamber 3 by the pipes 14; and 1 5., The pipe 8 extends beyond its connections with both pipe's 7 and 9; in it are. mounted the valves 12 and'13 adjacent to its connection with pipe 9. A check valve 11 is also mounted therein intermediate its connection with pipes 7 and 10.

The high and low pressure sides of the system are connected by a pipe 16intermediate the pipes 5 and 15, the passage therethrough being controlled by the valve 17. A pipe 18 extends from the high pressure reservoir 4 to the mechanism, not shown, which is to be driven or operated by the air compressed by the compressor 1. The pipe 19 extends from the driven mechanism to the reservoir 4, the exhaust air of the mechanism being returned therethrough to the low pressure side of the system.

The valve chambers 2 and 3 are provided with slide valves therein as 20 and 21, these slide valves are provided with ports 22 and 23 adapted to be brought opposite the ends of the pipes 7 and 10 when said pipes are to be opened. The valves 20 and 21 are operated respectively by levers 24 and 25 pivotally mounted at a suitable point intermediate their lengths, upon bearings in standards or supports within their respective chambers. The ends of the levers 24 and 25, opposite their connection with the valves 20 and 21 are preferably slotted, said slots engaging pins 27 and 28 secured to reciprocating rod or plunger 26, the ends of Patented Feb. 2,-1912;

h chambers 2 and 3 and the ends thereof proof these sides of the chambers 2 and 3 in the outer edges 'ofwashers 39 and 40 which are to be maintained in the two sides The first stage is to supply a 'diiference of which extend into the chambers 2 and 3 as shown in Fig. 1. The said rod or plunger 26 passes through the adjacent sides of the ject into, and are guided by, elongated bear ings or guides 42 and 43 formed in the outer walls-of the chambers 2 and 3. Set screws 44 and 45 projecting into the outer portions of said bearings make it possible to adjust and limit the throw of said rod 26. Portions through which the rod 26 passes, consist of diaphragms of leather, or other suitable material, concentric with the rod 26 and fastened to it by the nuts 33, 34, 35 and 36 which engage screw threads on the said rod 26; the outer edges of the diaphragms being secured to'their respective casings by collars or clamping rings 31 and 32.

The diaphragms 29 and 30 are-protected from bulging or distortion, under the action of the air within the chambers 2 and 3, by means of composite plates 37 and 38 which are mounted on the exterior sides-ofth'eir respective diaphragms. The outer edges of the plates engage ooves inthe inner edges of the collars or c amping rings 31 and 32, and the inner edges of the plates engage grooves which are situatedjust inside the nuts 33 and 35. These composite plates are built up of a multiplicity 'of sections, as 41, which are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The mountin of these segments- 41 of each plate 37 and 38is sufiiciently loose in the grooves engaging their outer and inner edges to permit of their articulation underthe action of the diaphragms 29 and 30 in moving the rod 26.-

The active areas of the diaphragms 29 and 30 are in inverse ratio to the pressures of the system. I prefer to maintain aoratio sideof the system) to one (the pressure in the low pressure sideof the system) or a pressure of 200 pounds absolute'persquare inch in the high pressure side, and 100 pounds absolute per square inch in the low pressure side.

In the operation of this mechanism, should there be no available supply ofair already compressed with which to charge the two sides of the system to their working pressures, air is introduced in two stages.

pressure in the two sides of the system sufiicient to operate the mechanism for supplying loss by leakage which is hereinafter described, and the second stage is to vitalize the mechanism for supplying loss by leakage to compress atmospheric air into the system to bring the pressure in the two sides of the system upto the working pressure. The air compressor 1 is first caused to draw in air from theatmosphere by opening the valve 13 and closing the valve 12, this air is forced into the pipe 5 and the high pressure side of the system, a portion of it passing into the 'low presure side of the system through the pipe 16, the

valve 17 being also open. Thus the pressure will increasev equally in both sides of the system until a predetermined pressure is, I

23 therein over the end of the pipe 10; this same movement of the rod 26 acting through thelever 24 will cause the valve 20 to assume a position to close the pipe 7. The continued action of 'the air compressor 1 will thendraw air from the chamber 3 and the low pressure side of the system through the pipes 10 and 8, the check valve 11 and pipe 9 into its inlet side and deliver it into the of the system. The pressure in the high pressure side of thesystem will increase and the pressure in the low pressure side will decrease until the increased pressure in the.

pipe 5, chamber. 2 and the high pressure side chamber 2 upon the smaller diaphragm-29 is able to exert a counter pressure upon the said diaphragm 29 to. that received by the 1 larger diaphragm 30 in the chamber 3.

'l/Vhen the pressure in the chamber 2 is able to equalize and a little more than olfset the'pressure upon the diaphragm 30, the rod 26 will be moved in the opposite direction toward the set screw 45, causing the a valve 21 to move and cut off the pipe 10 from the chamber 3, and a similar movement of the valve 20 will. cause it 'to register its port 22 over the end of the pipe 7. The air in the low pressure side of the system is thus cut ofi from the air compressor 1 and the air in the high pressure side of the system will be admitted to the inlet side of the air compressor 1 through the pipes 7 and 8 and 9. The check valve 11 prevents this high pressure from escaping into the low pressure side of thesystem. When the two sides of the air compressor 1 are thus connected togethr the compression of air. ceases and the air idles through the compressor under the same pressure thus relieving it of work. \Vhen air has been transferred from the high pressure side of the system to the low pressure side so that the ratio of pressure in the two sides is disturbed, the diaphragms 29 and 30 will automatically adjust the valves 20 and 21 to regain the proper ratio of pressures.

by leakage, or from any other cause by which the pressure in the two-sides of-the system may fall below the desired working pressures. I accomplish this process, by the I use of auxiliary compressing means consisting of an auxiliary air engine 50 operating an auxiliary air compressor 51. The auxiliary air engine 50 receives'air from the high pressure side of the system through the pipes 52 and 53, a chamber 54 containing a valve mechanism being interposed in said piping. The chamber 54 has a web or wall 55 mounted therein, said web or wall having an aperture therethrough forming a port, the surrounding web or wall forming a valve seat 56. A valve 57 .is adapted to close against said valve seat and prevent the passage of air therethrough. The pipe 52 enters the chamber below the valve; the pipe 53 enters the chamber above the valve. The valve has a stem 58 which passes outwardly through the wall of the casing to a suitable distance beyond the same. The valve stem 58 surrounded with a stuifing box to prevent escape of air r'rom within the casing 54. When the valve 57 is raised from the valve seat 56 air will pass through the port in the web and actuate the auxiliary engine 50 and thereby the auxiliary air compressor 51, which will then take in air from the atmosphere and force it into the lowpressure side of the system through the pipes 59 and 19.

The exhaust of the auxiliary air compressor also passes to the low pressure side of the system through the pipes 60, 59, and 19. The said valve 57 is operated at proper times by a plunger or rod 61 mounted in alinement with the valve stem 58. Said plunger 61 is capable of being reciprocated by a floating lever 62 with which it is. pivotally connected. The plunger 61 reciprocates in suitable bearings projecting from the framing of the mechanism, and a coiled spring 63surrounding a portion of said plunger engages one of said bearings atone end and at the other end an adjustable collar 64 secured to the P11111- ger 61. Said spring 63 tends to force the plunger 61 away from the valve stem 58 of the valve 57- The plunger 61 holds the valve 57 seated against the action of the spring 63 when there is ample pressure in the two sides of the system, through the action of diaphragms 69 and in the chambers 65 and 66, which are mounted adjacent to the floating lever or yoke 62. The chambers 65 and 66 are connected by piping 67 and 68 with the low and high pressure sides of the system respectively. The diaphragms 69 and 70 in said chambers 65 and 66 have the same ratio in pressure receiving areas as exists between the diaphragms 30 and 29 in the chambers'3 and 2, so that the pressures in said chambers 65 and 66 will act equally upon the valve controlling plunger 61. The said diaphragms 69 and 70 are mounted in the walls of the chambers 65 and 66 in a manner similar to that of diaphragms 29 and 30 in the chambers 2 and3, and they are protected bycomposite plates 71 and 72 similar to the plates 37 and 38 in the chambers 2 and 3. These diaphragms 69 and 70 each carry plungers 73 and 74 attached to their centers, in a manner similar to the attachment of the rod 26 to the diaphragms 29 and 30. Said plungers are controlled as to the extent of their inward movement by set screws 76 and which act as stops. The exterior ends of said plungers engage levers 7 7 and 78 which are pivotally mounted at their outer ends upon the framing of the mechanism, while their inner ends are screw threaded and carry adjustable ringnuts 79 and 80, which bear upon levers 81 and 82, also pivotally mounted on the framing of the mechanism. The outer ends of said levers 81'vand 82 are connected by links 83 and 84 with the ends of the floating lever. or yoke 62. The pressure in the two sides of the system acting within the chambers 65 and 66 will actuate the diaphragms 69 and 7 O and the plungers 7 I and 74 carried by them, will operate the system of levers intermediate the plungers and floating lever 62, and the latter will force the plunger 61 in the proper direction for closingthe valve 57 against its seat 56. Any less pressures than the desired working pressures in the two sides of the system will not be capable of compressing the spring 63 sutficiently to close the valve stopper against the seat, so that where the pressures in the two sides of the system are less than the working pressures desired, the spring 63 will expand and carry the rod61 away from the stem 58 of the valve stopper 57, and air from the high pressure side of the system will first force the valve 57 away from its seat 56 and then pass said valve. As long as this said valve is open the air from the-high pressure side of the system will .pass through the pipe 52, casing 54 and pipe 53 to the. aum'liary engine 50 and actuate said engine and auxiliary air compressor 51' and compress atmospheric air and force it into the low pressure side of the system. It willthen be proportionately transferred to both sides of the system until the increased pressures acting on the two diaphragms 69 and 70, cause them to close the valve 57 upon its seat-56 and stop the auxiliary engine 50 and auxiliary air compressor 51.

Where the power supplied by this mechanism is applied to such purposes as the propelling of vehicles, at a certain speed the propelling motion will consume the full volume of the capacity of the air compressor 1, at the full diflerence of the pressure between the high and low pressure sides'of the system. An increased speed of the motors will take more than the capacity of the compressor at full pressure and the pressure on the high pressure side of the system will be re-' duced while that of the low pressure will increase; the mechanism set forth is admirably adapted to providing means that will supply loss by leakage at'that time, no matter what may be the ratio of pressure on the two sides of the system, since the said mechanism involves the combination of the resultant actions of two pressures converted to a single function. Should the pressures exerted in the two chambers 65 and 66 be disturbed so that the resultant pressure communicated to rod 61, is not equal to the pres air, from the system are running, the rod or lunger 26 operating the valves in the chamhers 2 and 3 will move backward and for ward, alternately opening and closing the said valves to admit air to the compressor from either the high or the low pressure sides of the system as required, and when the motors or other machlnery to be actuated are idle, the valve 20 will remain open and the valve 21 closed. When the motors are working and taking the full supply of air furnished by the compressor 1, the valve; 20' will remain closed and the valve 21 open,

Any intermediate use of the motors will cause the-mechanism to move back' and forth to maintain the given ratio of pressure in the two sides of the system, and the work that will be required of the compressor will depend upon the lengthof time the valve 21 is open and the valve 20 closed over the time when the said valve 20 is open and the valve 21 is closed.

It is believed that the operation of the mechanism will be fully understood from the above description since the operation of its various parts has been necessarily brought out in connection with said description.

What I claim is 1. An air compressing and distributing mechanism,. comprising a compressing means, a system of piping connected with the induction and the eduction sides of said compressor, a movable member interposed between the sides of said system and operable by the relative pressure inthe two sides of the system for causing the compressor ongest to take air from either side'of the system and thusmaintain the pressure in the two sides at a given rate with respect to each other.

2. An air compressing and distributing mechanism, comprising an air compressing device, a system of piping andreservoirs connected with the compression side of said,

device, a system of piping and reservoirs connected with the suction side of the said device, a movable member associated with the system and adapted to be actuated by the pressures from both sides of the system whereby a given ratio between the two systems may be maintained.

3. An air compressing and distributing system, comprising an air compressor, one side of said system being connected with the eduction side of the compressor while the other sideof'the system is connected with the induction side of the compressor, a reciprocating member associated with the systemand having means for receiving the different pressures from the two sides of the system, and means operated by the said reciprocating member for maintaining a given ratio of pressure between the two sides, in accordance with the work performed by the air upon the compression side of the said system.

4. An air compressing and distributing system, comprising high and low pressure reservoirs, an air compressor connected with each by a suitable piping, and capable of drawing air 'from either reservoir in accordance with the amount of work performed, a reciprocating member associated with the system, valves operated by the said reciprocating member, the said valves being interposed in said piping and arranged to be moved by the reciprocating member in accordance with the pressure exerted upon the same from the two sides of the system, and means cooperating with the high and low pressure sides of the system capable of introducing additional air to the system whenever leakage occurs.

5. A compressed air system, comprising high and low pressure sides, a compressor interposed between them, a valve for connecting the low pressure side with the compressor when the pressure therein is depressed below the usual rate'maintained and a second valve connected with the high pressure side, a reciprocating member connected with both of said valves, means carried by the said reciprocating member adapted to receive the diflering pressures from the two sides of the system whereby the member will be so moved as to control the valves for maintaining the desired ratio between the sides of the system.

6. An air compressing and delivery system comprising high and low pressure connections, an air compressor interposed bethe high'pressure side from the low pressure side, valves controlling the delivery of pres sure from the low pressure side, and the maintaining of the same in the high pressure side, flexible diaphragms ofdiflerent areas controlling the action of said valves in accordance with the ratio of pressures to be maintained in the different sides of the system, and means for introducing additional air-to the system controlled by the 7. An air compressing and delivering system comprising a compressor, piping and intermediate connections connected with the inlet and exhaust sides of the compressor forming a low pressure system and a-high pressure system, equalizing valve mechanisms-interposed in said systems, one of said valve mechanisms being connected with the low pressure side only, while the'other is connected with both low and high pressure sides, a reciprocating member extending into both valve mechanisms and capable of operating the same simultaneously, pressure means having different pressure receiving areas affecting-the said valve mechanisms, the pressure receiving areas in the low pressure side being greater than that in the high pressure side whereby a higher rate of pressure is maintained through the action of the said valve mechanisms upon the high pressure side.

8. An air compressing and distributing mechanism comprising high and low pressure sides, a compressor interposed between the two, an auxiliary compressing means connected with the low pressure side of the system, means for furnishing actuating air pressure thereto from the high pressure sides of the system, means controlled by the pressure in both sides of the system for admitting the air pressure to said auxiliary means.

9. An air compressing and distributing mechanism comprising a compressor having a system of piping connected with the outlet side of the compressor for holding the high pressure generated by the air compressor, a system oi piping connected with the inlet side of the compressor for holding the low pressure maintained in the apparatus, equal- .izing valves connected with the low pressure system, one of which valves is also connected with the high pressure side of the system, an auxiliary compressing means connected with the low pressure side of the system, a valve mechanism for introducin air from the system to actuate said auxi iary compressor, and means actuated by the pressures from the high and low pressure sides of the system for controlling the said valve and permitting the operation-of the auxiliary compressor when additional air is required in the system.

10. An air compressing and distributing system having a high pressure side and a lo pressure side connected with the eduction and induction sides of the air compressor respectively, an air compressor, valve mechanisms controlling the ratio of pressure between the sides of the system, diaphragms of difierent areas for actuating said valves .1n accordance with pressure exerted upon them, the said valves being formed of flexible material secured to the valve casings, a

reciprocating member operating the said valves and connected with the said diaphragms, and segment plates movably mounted outside the said diaphragms for protecting the latter against undue stretching and distortion. I

11. An air compressing and distributing mechanism comprising an vair compressor,-

systems of piping connected with the opposite sides thereof for holding air under high and low pressure, valve means for maintaining the proper ratio between the sides of the system, an auxiliary air compressing mechanism connected with the system, a valve mechanism for controlling the same, a plunger for operating said valve mechanism, levers for actuating the said plunger, and

pressure receiving diaphragms vconnectedwith the high and low pressure sides of the system for operating said levers and the said plungers in accordance with the pressure in the system; 1

12. An air compressing and distributing mechanism comprising a main air compres sor, high and low pressure systems of piping connected with the inlet and outlet ports of said compressor, valve chambers connected with the said systems of piping for maintaming a given ratio in the pressure upon.

each side of the compressor, an auxiliary compression mechanism for adding more air to the system when the pressure therein has fallen below normal condition, a valve controlling the same, a spring pressed plunger for operating said valve, a floating lever carrying the same, adjustable levers for op erating said float-ing lever, yielding diaphragms mounted in pressure casings, pressure casings carrying the same, one of which is connected with the low pressure side of the system while the other is connected withthe high pressure sides thereof, the said diaphragms having difi'ering pressure areas corresponding inversely with the ratio maintained between the high and low pressure sides of the system, plungers carried by the said diaphragms engaging the said adjustable levers, and segment plates movably mounted outside the diaphragms for protecting them against undue strain and distortion.

13. An air compressing and distributing mechanism, comprising a compressor, a system of piping connected with the eduction side thereof, a system-of piping connected with the induction side thereof, valve mechanisms connected with each side of said system, one of said valve mechanisms being also connected with the other side of the system,- a reciprocating member extending into both of said valve mechanisms for operatingthe said valves, and diaphragms of different areas connected with said reciprocating member for influencing the same in accordance with the ratio between the pressures in the two sides of the system,

14:. An air compressing and distributing mechanism, comprising a compressor, systems of piping connected with the induction and eduction sides of said compressor, a

valve mechanism having connections with both sides of the system, a second valve mechanism having connections with the in-.

duction side of the system only, a reciprocating rod extending into both of said valve mechanisms, valves in each mechanism day of February, 1911.

adapted to be controlled by the said rod,

flexible diaphragms connected with the said rods and having suitable areas exposed to the pressures of each side of the system, one of said diaphragms being larger than the other to maintain a higher pressure upon one side of the system than upon the other, protecting means carried by the said rod for protecting the said diaphragms, and means for adjusting the limit of travel of the said reciprocating rod, the whole structure being such that the pressures upon the two sides of the system will be automatically maintained at a given ratio with respect to each other. 1 In witness that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4:

MELVILLE C.

WILKINSON.

Witnesses:

M. F. HELLER, G. A. PARKER. 

